Tire-puncture finder.



P. MILLER.

TIRE PUNGTURE FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1912.

1,037,954, Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

f avwewtoz UNITED STATES; PATENT onnrcn.

FRANCIS MILLER, 0F BELLEVUE, KENTUCKY.

TIRE-PIINGTURE FINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. l atented'sgpt, 10, 1912,

Application filed January 23, 19 12. $eria1' No. 672,979.

To (112 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M IL LER, a citizen of the United States, reslding at- Bellevue, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Puncture Finders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for detecting and locating leaks in pneumatic tubes such as vehicle tires, etc.

' An object of this invention is to provide a simple, cheap, convenient and eflicient device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can detect leakage in a pneumatic tire, first by sliding it around the circumference of the tire to localize the leakage within a limited surface area of the tirein a radial plane, and which can then be slid around the localized tire area circumferentially to discover the exact point of leakage.

Another object of my invention is to provide the device with means for determining the valve leakage.

Another object of the invention is to pro- ,vide the device with an instrumentality actuated by the escaping air for visually detecting and locating leaks.

Thefeatures of my invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which V .Figure l is a side elevation of the leak detector applied to a tire 'section. Fig. 2 is a section on line :20, m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 2;, 4), Fig. 2.

The leak detector consists of the ring 1, formed of the ring sections 2, 3, appropriately of the diameter of the tire when lightly inflated, so as to be clamped around ous water absorbent or bubble former 11,

for carrying soapy'water or its equivalent. Preferably, the walls of the blower are outwardly curved to form a concave seat l2,

for engaging segments of the tire circumferentially" in a given radial. plane of the tire. Also, preferably, the nipple 8 is screw threaded to correspond with the screw threads of the airevalve of the tire.

In operation, the blower being charged with soapy water, the ring is clamped; around a tire as shown in Fig. 1.. The ring is forced around the tire, describing a circle 5 around the center. When an area of leak age is reached, the air will rush into chaiii her 6, escaping through nipple 8, passing through the bubble former 11 and projecting a soap bubble from the seat 12. Having localized the area of leakage, the ring should be moved firstone way and then the other, until the bubbling ceases,two lines 9 being marked on the tire defining the defective radial section of the tire. The ring v is then removed and the seat 12 is applied to the defined section of leakage and slowly passed around said section circumferentially. Whenever a point of leakage is reached the air will escape in the reverse 30 direction, projecting the bubble from the free end'of the nipple 8, the nipple being preferably removedfirom thering for this operation. When the nipple is screwed into the socket of the air valve, leakagefrom this source may he detected. I

The device mbe utilized in connection withany fluid tu es for detecting and locating leaks. Also, one size of ring may, be

used for different diameter-tubes by varying the degree of inflation and the detector can be readily carried in a tool box.

Having described' my invention, I claim zi,

l. A leak detector matie tubes, comprising a ring adapted to encircle the tire, and formed with an interior annular air chamber therein, abubble blower on the ring communicating with said chamber, and a concave seat on the outer end of the blower for segmentallyengaging the tube oircumferentially.

2. A leak detector and finder for pneumatic tubes, comprising a ring. adapted to encircle the "tire, and formed with an interior annular air chamber therein, a bubble blower detachably secured on the ring, communicating with said chamber, and a concave seat on the outer end of the blower for segment-ally engaging entially.

3. A leak detector and finder for pneu and finder for pneu- 95- the tube circumfer- --be clamped around the same, and formed with an internal annular l matic tubes comprising, a ring adapted to tube to encircle the for securing together themeeting ends of said lnnged components, and a. bubble blower on one of said components communicating with said air chamber. 5. A leak detector and finder for pneumatic tubes, comprising a ring adapted to encircle the tube and formed with an interior annular air chamber, a bubble blower having a nipple adapted to be screwed into sa1 chamber, the mouth of said bubble blower having a concave surface adapted to engage the tire periphery, whereby when the leak area is discovered, the blower may be removed and its mouth placed against the tire and the bubble blown from the nipple end when -the position of the leak is detected.

n testimony whereof,"l have hereunto setmy hand.

FRANCIS MILLER. lVitnesses OLIVER B. KAISER, CLARENCE B. FOSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 6.-

ring to communicate With said air 

